I have constant pain all the way down my right side from my stroke 3 years ago, what can I do?

Hi Diana,

I am sorry to hear about your stroke and the pain you are experiencing. It is completely normal to feel frustration.

Unfortunately, pain is a common issue after stroke and finding out what's causing the pain is the first step to getting the appropriate treatment.

Pain treatment can be quite different depending on the source of the pain. It is useful to establish with your GP (or with a therapist) whether there is anything ‘local’ at the site of your arm that is causing pain (e.g. damaged muscles in your arm or shoulder).

If pain is not from a ‘local’ injury, it may be a form of neuropathic pain, for example ‘central post-stroke pain’. Damaged nerves may send incorrect information or extra messages that cause you to feel pain. Additionally, the area of the brain that senses pain may have been affected by the stroke.

If you haven’t already, make an appointment with your GP to discuss the pain and to review medications you are taking. They may refer you to a physiotherapist and occupational therapist.

Another option is a Pain Management Team. This involves a group of health professionals specialising in the treatment and management of pain. The team will look at a range of treatment options both pharmacological and non-pharmacological. Your GP will be able to tell you whether or not this is a viable option.

To read more about pain after stroke, you can refer to our pain management after stroke fact sheet.

There are quite a few discussions about pain amongst the stroke survivor community on our website: https://enableme.org.au/resources/pain-management.

There is also a great podcast about pain here: https://enableme.org.au/Community/Podcasts/Pain.

It is also not unusual for people with ongoing pain to seek help from a psychologist. If you feel your mood is worsening, chat with your GP about a referral, you could also request a Mental Health Care plan to subsidise the cost of sessions.

If we can be of any further help, please don't hesitate to give StrokeLine a call on 1800 787 653.

Best wishes,

Stephanie

StrokeLine